An equestrian painting with a newly discovered secret and postage stamps worth framing: our pick of the December sales

Anthony van Dyck's painting An Andalusian Horse, featuring a hidden landscape and a significant historical background, showcases the duality of its value as art and historical artifact.

The re-discovery of the canvas's landscape after conservators' work highlights the evolving understanding of Van Dyck’s artistry, revealing a hidden dimension to a well-known equestrian portrait.

Sandro Botticelli's Virgin Mary with the Christ Child Enthroned, also known as the Wantage Madonna, represents the enduring legacy and value of family-held art, enhancing its auction significance.

The Wantage Madonna, auctioning for the first time at Sotheby's, illustrates how prolonged family ownership can amplify a painting’s narrative and commercial value in the art world.

Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events